Popular Features of Business Phone Systems

Tuesday, May 20th

Popular Features of Business Phone Systems

For most businesses, a business phone system is a vital piece of operating equipment. It is the lifeline between the company and its customers and without one, businesses may find themselves struggling to thrive and bring in new customers.

As important as advertising your business and services is to your success, a customer's ability to be able to reach out to you is as equally important. That is where the right business phone system comes in handy.

Once you have decided on purchasing a business phone system, you can begin to look at the most popular features of business phone systems to decide if you wish to incorporate any of them into your package.

The most basic features of just about every business phone system on the market are:

Automated Attendance/Answering Service. Companies which do not have a need or desire to hire a receptionist with the intention of answering the phones all day long may wish to incorporate this feature. It also is handy to have for after-hours answering. Customers who call your number will be greeted by this automated attendant, which will provide them with a variety of options to direct their call. A list of employees, complete with extension numbers, generally is included in any automated greeting.
Tele-conferencing Features. Most companies prefer the ability to be able to use two or more phones at the same time to hold a conference call. In this day and age, more and more business is being conducted over the phone and over internet web services such as Skype, than in person.
Voicemail Services. Unless your employees are literally chained to their desks, including voicemail as part of your package always is a good idea. Customers who call during lunch hour, while an employee is on break or during non-office hours still have the option to leave a message and have their needs met.

Other basic features which are generally included in any business phone system include call hold, call forwarding, speed dial, redial, paging, music on hold and a back-up source of power that will keep the phone system going for up to an hour in the event of a power failure.

As with any product, there also is the "Cadillac model" for business phone systems. These are the systems which cost the most, but also offer all of the bells and whistles that large companies often prefer.

Once you have decided which features are most important for the operation of your business, do your research. There are multiple companies which offer business phone systems, but not all are created equally. Ask for customer recommendations and seek reviews for the system prior to purchasing.

See all of our
Business Phone System reviews

What are the best Business Phone Systems

Business Phone System FAQ

What IS a business phone system?

A business phone system allows you to manage all of your company's telecommunications. Packages may include a toll-free phone number, call routing to multiple users, and voicemail retrieval via email.

Is my business too big (or too small) for one of these systems?

Whatever your company's size, there's a system that fits. Most providers have packages and plans that scale well, so even if you start with just a few features and phones, you can expand as needed - or keep it exactly the same. Business phone systems are a fantastic way to manage multiple phones and users with little hassle.

Are business phone systems expensive?

They don't have to be! Monthly plans start at $9.95 for smaller packages of users and minutes.

I'm not very tech-savvy. Are these systems complicated?

There will probably be a slight learning curve, but the best providers of these systems will walk you through every step of setup and give you great tech support as long as you have your plan. Most services let you use an online dashboard to configure and manage every aspect of your system.

Can I use the phones I already have?

Yes, most of the time. If you've already invested in phones for your business, you don't want to have to spend a lot more to set up a business phone system - so choose a provider that lets you incorporate existing equipment.

What are some of the best features of a business phone system?

Most customers use these systems to route phone calls among team members. It's easy to change which numbers are directed to which phones, for easy coverage when someone is out of the office or unavailable. Other popular features are creating a virtual PBX, receiving and sending faxes, automated voicemail-to-text, call screening, and even premium hold music!

How reliable are business phone systems?

Very! Some providers have been in business for more than 20 years, and they know exactly how to help you get your system up and running the way you want. You can always check out a company's customer feedback and their rating from the Better Business Bureau, for assurance that a provider is on the up-and-up.

What if I don't like the way the system works? Can I switch back?

Of course. Because you're not physically installing phone lines in your business, changing your business phone system is easy to do. And, many services have a 30-day money-back guarantee to protect you even more.